Painting mask for nameplates and the like



Nov. 8, 1960 R. K. BYERS ETAL PAINTING MASK FOR NAMEPLATES AND THE LIKE Filed May 4, 1959 INVENTOR. RICHARD K. BYEREB RALPH (nmHSHMTEE,

IHTORNEVE 7 P atented Nov. 8, 1960 PAINTING MASK FOR NAMEPLATES AND THE LIKE Richard K. Byers, 5220 Smith St., Fort Wayne, Ind., and Ralph Shaffer, Jr., Rte. 1, Wolcottville, Ind.

Filed May 4, 1959, Ser. No. 810,763

2 Claims. (Cl. 118-505) The present invention relates to a painting mask for nameplates and the like and more particularly to a mask which conforms almost identically to the shape of a nameplate or the like mounted on a surface to be painted, the mask covering and adhering to such nameplate.

Automobiles are popularly identified by trademarks, model names, distinctive shields and the like, these designations usually being of solid, three-dimensional shapes formed of cast metal or metal stampings. For convenience in referring hereinafter to these designations, they will be referred to as symbols. These symbols are usually chrome or nickel plated and are fastened to the outer surface of the automobile body by means of screw or snap-type fittings.

If it ever becomes necessary to repaint the automobile, it is necessary, in order to retain as much of the original appearance as possible, to mask the symbols with masking tape or the like or remove these symbols from the automobile prior to painting. Both the masking and removing operations are tedious and time-consuming, and contribute appreciably to the cost involved in the repainting work.

It is therefore an object of this invention to eliminate substantitally such tedious and time-consuming operations involved in the repainting of an automobile.

It is another object of this invention to provide a unique mask for symbols, which is simple, inexpensive and facile to use.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, the invention may be embodied in the forms illustr-ated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that specific change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an illustration in plan view of a practical embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional illustration taken substantially along section line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional illustration similar to Fig. 2 but showing the mask as covering a raised symbol mounted on a supporting surface.

Referring to the drawings, a mask of this invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. This mask comprises a thin, flexible, paint-impermeable, sheetlike element having inner and outer surfaces 12 and 14, respectively, which are substantially parallel. Preferably, the mask is formed of some suitable self-supporting, shape-retaining plastic material such as nylon, mylar, cellulose acetate, or some other clear or opaque plastic material, the preferred plastic material being that which is insoluble in the usual liquids used for cleaning paint from brushes, spray guns and the like. The mask should b relatively thin, having a dimension in the order of .003 to .010 inch. Being of this thickness, the mask is relatively flexible, but on the other hand is shape-retentive so as to have substantially a duplicate of the shape of the symbol which is to be masked.

The mask may be fabricated of sheet plastic material by forming the same to the identical shape of the outer surface area of a raised symbol as mounted on a supporting surface, the mask being trimmed to provide an edge which coincides with the outline of the symbol contiguous with the supporting surface. Additionally, the mask may be molded by the use of suitably contoured dim, injection molding being an example.

In either instance, the inner surface 12 of the mask is a duplicate in shape to the outer surface of the symbol which is exposed above the symbol-supporting surface. This is illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein the supporting surface is indicated by the reference numeral 16 and the symbol in cross-section is indicated by the numeral 18. It is to be noted that the inner surface 12 of the mask conforms identically to the outer exposed surface of the symbol 18 and terminates flush with the outline which the edges of the symbol 18 form on the supporting surface 16.

Preferably, the inner and outer surfaces 12 and 14 are parallel and gradually taper to a relatively sharp edge at the lateral extremities 20 of the mask. Actually, this taper, indicated by the numeral 22, is formed in the outer surface 14 only and is of such a gradual nature as to provide a smooth and relatively straight contour for the outer surface.

This taper 22 is particularly useful in the instances in which the thickness of the mask is relatively large. If this thickness were large and were continued to the mask edge 20, this thickness would also mask a perimeter on the supporting surface 16 which surrounds the symbol such that after a painting operation is completed, this perimeter would appear as an unpainted line on the supporting surface 16. Since it is desired to paint the surface 16 up to a point contiguous with the edge of the symbol 18, it is thus seen that if the mask were too thick, this contiguous painting could not be achieved. Hence, the usefulness of the taper 22 which terminates in a relatively sharp edge 20 becomes apparent.

On the inner surface 12 of the mask is applied a suitable contact adhesive, this adhesive being of the same material as is customarily used on cellophane tape, surgical tape, masking tape and the like, and is always sticky to adhere to almost any object which may come in contact therewith.

While a particular symbol has been illustrated in Fig. 1, it will occur as obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. In practice, the mask 10 is fabricated for substantially all of the symbols used on automobiles, and since there are several hundred different symbols used on all of the different makes of automobiles, it is obvious that there will be several hundred of the masks 10, respectively.

In use, if it is desired to paint an automobile having a nameplate thereon of the configuration as shown in Fig. 1, it is only necessary that the mask 10 be superimposed thereover, the adhesive on the inner surface 12 adhering the mask to the nameplate. Since the edges 20 of the mask terminate contiguous to the supporting surface 16, it is only necessary that the painting operation be performed in such a manner as to ignore the presence of the nameplate and mask. After the paint has dried, it is only necessary to remove manually the mask from the nameplate.

Since the mask itself is inexpensive and is applied to the symbol or nameplate in a matter of seconds and may be removed therefrom in a similar length of time, it is obvious that the substantial amount of time which is normally consumed in the tedious work of masking the symbol with masking tape or removing the nameplate from the body of the automobile prior to painting is eliminated. This leads to a substantial economy in the repainting of automobiles. Further advantages and usefulness will appear to persons skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

,1. A device for masking a given three-dimensional raised symbol member mounted on a surface area during painting ofsaid area, said device having substanti-allly parallel inner and outer surfaces and having a thickness dimension smaller than the width and length dimensions thereof, said inner surface being shaped to conform to the outer surface configuration of said given symbol member, said device having a perimetral edge which terminates substantially flush with the outline of said symbol member on said surface area, said device in cross-section tapering from said perimetral edge to said outer surface along a relatively straight and continuous line which defines said outer surface.

2. A device for masking a given three-dimensional raised symbol member mounted on a surface area during painting said said area; said device being a thin, flexible, paintimpermeable sheet-like element having inner and outer surfaces which are substantially parallel, said element having a shape which conforms to the outer surface of said symbol member and being formed of shape-retaining plastic material, said inner surface being recessed and carrying thereon a contact-adhesive material for adhering said element to the outer surface of said symbol member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,932,138 Kimbrough Oct. 24, 1933 2,363,843 Duggan Nov. 28, 1944 2,363,845 Duggan Nov. 28, 1944 2,363,846 Duggan Nov. 28, 1944 2,547,674 Tobey Apr. 3, 1951 2,726,634 Horner Dec. 13, 1955 

